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UNFORGIVEN, how's the PQ?

post #1 of 34
9/13/06 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
I did a search for this but found surprisingly little talk on this particular flick...

The list of available HD titles is largely underwhelming, but this film is on the top of my list to purchase when I finally get my HD-A1.

I was wondering if anyone out there can give a specific review of the PQ for this title... Is it significantly better than the standard dvd (upconverted)? I've always thought the picture was quite rough and grainy on the original dvd release, but I assumed it was more of a style choice rather than transfer quality. If I'm wrong and the PQ on the HD release is indeed much better I'll be a happy camper.

Thanks for your time!

Andy
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post #2 of 34
9/13/06 at 12:58pm
It isn't perfect, but nonetheless a significant improvement over the DVD. Better details namely, but it doesn't have the wow factor of the latest releases. The sound is at a very low level however.
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post #3 of 34
9/13/06 at 2:34pm
It is one of the better transfers out there in my opinion. It reviewed really well on various sites as well. Definitely worth picking up.
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post #4 of 34
9/13/06 at 3:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkbryant View Post

It is one of the better transfers out there in my opinion. It reviewed really well on various sites as well. Definitely worth picking up.


I agree; Unforgiven is an excellent transfer, and often over-looked in the "reference quality" HD DVD. I first rented it from Netflix thinking I wouldn't enjoy such an "old western". The PQ is amazing, much more "film like". I bought a copy. While "The Searchers" is also excellent, Unforgiven for me has a more natural film-like quality while The Searchers (which I also own & use to show off my system) comes across as more "digital", probably from restoring the print from negatives.

Just my opinion; your milage may vary.
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post #5 of 34
9/13/06 at 3:38pm
This was one of the first HD titles I watched (along with Million Dollar Baby). Eastwood seems to love dark films. I haven't seen Unforgiven in SD but it looked very impressive.
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post #6 of 34
9/13/06 at 4:19pm
I think the picture quality is good, but not great. About a 7 out of 10, I'd give it.
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post #7 of 34
9/13/06 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by RWetmore View Post

I think the picture quality is good, but not great. About a 7 out of 10, I'd give it.

That's about my assessment too. It looks good, but certianly not a reference disc.
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post #8 of 34
9/13/06 at 4:39pm
I'll go w/a 7 out of 10 as well. Although it is a great transfer it is a fairly dark and color dry movie - while that isn't a fault but more of a style choice of the crew it still causes it to lose the "WOW" factor.

If you like this movie, I'd say buy it. You shouldn't be disappointed with the level of detail over the SD version.
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post #9 of 34
9/13/06 at 4:47pm
I dunno if it's my smaller viewing screen or what (30" WS HDTV CRT) but I thought the PQ was stunning. True, some of the inside scenes were dark (this was a western and back in the 1800s there weren't bright light sources inside houses) but the outside scenes were just breathtaking. The beautiful countryside and weeds blowing in the wind...very nice. I bought it only because of its high rating and starring cast, very glad I did.
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post #10 of 34
9/13/06 at 5:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boden11 View Post

I dunno if it's my smaller viewing screen or what (30" WS HDTV CRT) but I thought the PQ was stunning.

Nope. It's stunning on my 95" screen too. One of the best out there. The level of detail is amazing. I'd give it an 9 out of 10.
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post #11 of 34
9/13/06 at 6:08pm
i found this to be an exceleny title and viewing was done on a 70in Qualia...seeing it on hd dvd was like seeing it for the first time all over again.
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post #12 of 34
9/13/06 at 7:40pm
I think it had excellent pq, but not quite on par with Serenity or Aeon Flux. 8/10.
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post #13 of 34
9/13/06 at 8:44pm
I think the movie is absolutely beautiful. Great cinematography. It may not have the crispness of Aeon Flux or Serenity but it is on par with many other current movies (it was made in 1992). There are certain scenes where the detail is very apparant: Stunning landscapes, the wrinkles and detail on the clothing (and faces) of Eastwood and Freeman. I agree that the movie is very film like. Finally, this is just a really good movie, regardless of genre.
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post #14 of 34
9/13/06 at 10:02pm
Thread Starter 
Great, this is just the sort of feedback I was looking for. Thanks for the responses! I agree it's an excellent film. I've been very reluctant to buy HD versions of DVD's I already own (I imagined I'd restrict my HD-DVD purchases to new releases), but you guys have swayed me off the fence with this one. Can't wait to check it out on the A1.


Thanks again.
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post #15 of 34
9/14/06 at 12:18am
The disk's sound quality is also top notch.

Enjoy
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post #16 of 34
9/14/06 at 2:17am
I have not viewed the whole disc but only the first 20 minutes or so, and I have made a thorough comparison with the Special edition DVD (R1). The nights scenes are just ok. (for HD) but the day scenes are simply breathtaking, and much much better than the latest R1 DVD transfer; as one reviewer said, you can practically see every leaf of every tree on the HD DVD!
My advice: Pick this one up.
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post #17 of 34
9/14/06 at 4:01am
Andy,

Unforgiven has less of the edgy look that can seen with titles as Aeon Flux and to a lesser degree with The Searchers, it looks more like film.

Even if you did not like the movie that much you would IMO be pleasantly surprised with the quality of the picture.

Oliver
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post #18 of 34
9/14/06 at 4:19am
I agree with most of the other assessments, the inside scenes and dark scenes are that great because there isn't a lot to work with, but the outside scenes look excellent. Funny how Serenity is also a fairly dark film and Jack Green was the cinematographer for both.
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post #19 of 34
9/16/06 at 12:39am
yea the indoor scenes are off-putting on any LCD(bravia and samsung LNS) but the outdoor scenes are so beautiful especially the montage of the three assasins out riding while the Eastwood's beautiful score is playing in the background

Searchers was unbelievably detailed; the grain structure was just crazy good; I'd have to say it did seem very film-like; the processed look may just be a result of the color timing they had to employ only using b&w negatives
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post #20 of 34
9/16/06 at 6:36am
Unforgiven's video is just down right awesome. I had never seen the movie before this, but it was worth it. Of course, themovie itself was good, but doesn't deserve teh awards it got. For one thing, English Bob was completely pointless and his entire role in the movie could have easily been removed.
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post #21 of 34
9/16/06 at 7:26am
I thought Unforgiven looked excellent on my 67" Samsung. I'd give it an 8.5/10.
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post #22 of 34
9/16/06 at 10:02am
On my 65" HP it looks great. It has passed with flying colors all reviews by the way.
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post #23 of 34
2/3/07 at 3:36pm
A great HD-DVD. Also a GREAT movie.
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post #24 of 34
2/3/07 at 4:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeLindsey View Post

A great HD-DVD. Also a GREAT movie.

Agreed. I'm consistently pleased with the way this one looks. One of my favorite discs.
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post #25 of 34
2/3/07 at 6:03pm
Guys, I saw this in the theater multiple times and the original film was not exactly a 10 PQ-wise; there is no point in comparing it to Serenity or Aeon Flux. It just isn't that sort of film. That said, they did a great job with this transfer.
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post #26 of 34
2/3/07 at 7:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Kain View Post

Unforgiven's video is just down right awesome. I had never seen the movie before this, but it was worth it. Of course, themovie itself was good, but doesn't deserve teh awards it got. For one thing, English Bob was completely pointless and his entire role in the movie could have easily been removed.

English Bob was there to help fill in background details of the sheriff's character and his beliefs. His role certainly didn't seem pointless to me.
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post #27 of 34
2/3/07 at 9:28pm
It's a GREAT lookng HD title, one of my faves, and for that matter, one of the best titles I've seen thus far, especially the scenic outside shots (and there are plenty of those), they ARE stunningly clean and natural on my Hitachi 65"....after Kong, Batman Begins, Fearless and Samurai, Unforgiven is one I would not hesitate to pull out to show people.
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post #28 of 34
2/4/07 at 9:04am
Hi Andy, it's a nice transfer. Not perfect but very, very good.

Some of the outdoor shots are jawdropping.
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post #29 of 34
2/4/07 at 9:53am
I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the PQ was very good....8.5 out of 10.
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post #30 of 34
2/4/07 at 6:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by skriefal View Post

English Bob was there to help fill in background details of the sheriff's character and his beliefs. His role certainly didn't seem pointless to me.

I agree . Gene Hackman handling the cocky English Bob , Reducing him to a bloody pulp showed a lot of character and what rule breakers would come up against.

Plus his biographer abandoned him was a great touch . I better quit so as not to ruin this for someone who has not seen it !!
English Bob was an excellent addition IMO ...
Great instant Classic movie !!

Bob
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